Integrator



March 2, 1948. A. WHARTON 2,437,178

INTEGRATORv Filed July 21, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 BY ma March 2, 1948.WHARTON INTEGRATOR Filed July 21, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 2, 1948.W'HARTQN 2,437,1?8

INTEGRATOR Filed July 21, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. flwzzlsz eaawarz am BY A W March 2, 1948. A. WHARTON INTEGRATOR Filed July 21, 19444 Sheets-Sheet 4 MU g 7E u MW AN M: w 7 i Patented Mar. 2, 1948INTEGRATOR Armistead Wharton,

Thompsons Point,

assignor to Taylor Instrument Companies, Rochester, N. Y., a corporationof New York Application July 21, 1944, Serial No. 546,042

1 Claim.

This invention relates to integrators.

The main feature of the invention relates to the provision of anintegrator which will exhibit complicated mathematical functions, suchas the extraction of the square root of a given variable.

Another feature of the invention relates to an integrator which willremain accurate during years of service, which will be reliable inoperation and which is simple and economical to manufacture.

Still another feature of the invention relates to an integratorconstruction which requires a reduced number of parts as compared withformer devices of this type. Furthermore, none of these parts haveexacting manufacturing tolerances.

An additional feature of the invention relates to an integrator whereinall of the intermittently rotating parts thereof are at rest during theengagement and disengagement of the clutch. Consequently, wear on theclutch parts is greatly reduced.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic showing of the integrator of the presentinvention used to integrate flow;

Fig. 2 is a front View of an integrating unit;

Figs. 3 and 4 are side elevations of this unit snowing the actuator armof the clutch in its lower and upper positions, respectively;

Fig. 5 is a top view of the integrator unit;

Figs. 6 and 7 are front views of the integrating unit with the majorportion of the front plate thereof broken away. These views particularlyillustrate the integrator in its clutched and unclutched positions,-respectively;

Fig. 8 is a front View of a slightly modified form of the inventionwherein the driven portion of the clutch operates through a series ofchange gears to drive the rotation counter;

Figs. 9 and 10 are sectional views taken sub stantially on the line 9-9of Fig. 8 particularly illustrating the construction of the clutch withthe parts thereof in their clutched and unclutched positions,respectively; and

Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line ll of Fig.8.

In the drawings, Fig. l diagrammatically shows one embodiment of theintegrator of the present invention used to integrate the rate of flowof a fluid through a pipe 5. In accordance with the usual practice, thispipe is provided with an orifice plate 6 across which there isdetermined the differential pressure, for use in measuring the rate offlow of the fluid. The pressure on the upstream side of the orificeplate 6 is applied through a pipe 7 to the interior of a bellows 8,while the pressure on the downstream side of the orifice plate isapplied through a pipe 9 to the interior of a bellows it. A lug on thebellows 8 contacts the underside of the left end of the lever l2 whichis mounted to swing vertically on a fixed pivot I3 and a lug on thebellows l0 engages the underside of the right end of the lever 12. Thus,the bellows 8 and i cooperate to swing the lever I2 either clockwise orcounterclockwise in accordance with the differential pressure across theorifice plate. The right hand end of the lever 12 is connected by a linkM to one arm of a bell crank 15 which swings on the fixed pivot is. Thebell crank 55 may be a part of the pen arm bracket or it may beconnected to that bracket so that the pen arm ll moves along with thehell crank l5 in response to changing differential pressures across theorifice plate 6. The pen arm terminates in a pen is which records theflow through pipe '7 on a chart l9, herein illustrated as a square rootchart. It will be understood that this chart is rotated by a clock motorof which only the casing 26 is illustrated. The movement of the pen armis communicated through a link 2! to actuate the mechanism of theintegrating unit I.

This unit (Figs. 2 through 11) comprises flex ible element 22 with itshook 22a which is moved by the link 2 l to various positionsapproximately proportional to the mentioned differential pres sure. Asensing cam plate 23 periodically oscillates through an angle which isdetermined by the various positions in which the hook 22a engages anedge of this sensing cam. This edge has a contour that converts thelinear function of the difierential pressure across the orifice plate 5into a linear function of flow, represented by the angle of deviation ofthe sensing cam plate 23. This angle through which the sensing cam plateoscillates in any given sensing excursion, is proportional to the squareroot of the angle of deviation of the pen arm i! from its zero position,plus a fixed small angle necessary to free the working parts such as thehook 224: so that it can follow the pen arm ll. In effect, the hooklikeelement 22 and the cooperating sensing cam plate extract the square rootof the differential pressure, which square root is proportional to therate of flow.

Each deviation of the sensing cam plate 23 from a given referenceposition, is accumulated on a rotation counter RC which is periodicallyadvanced an amount determined by each position of the cam plate, theaccumulation being eifected when these parts are intermittently coupledtogether by a periodically operated clutch C. Thus, the counter adds orsets up numbers at a rate which is proportional to the square root ofthe angle which the pen arm I! deviates or moves with respect to itszero position.

In detail the integrating unit I comprises a front plate 25 and a rearplate 26, secured in spaced relation by the posts 21. The mentionedhook-like element 22 includes a flexible strip terminating at its lowerend in the hook 22a. The upper end of the strip 22 is fixed to an arbor3! which is mounted in suitable bearings in the front and rearsupporting plates to swing the element in a plane parallel to those ofthe mentioned supporting plates. The front end of the arbor 3!, whichextends through the front supporting plate, has clamped thereon forangular adjustment, a bracket 33. This bracket has adjustably mountedthereon, a slotted arm 34, the lower end .of which is provided with aclip 34a (Fig. 3) which receives one end of a link 2!. The other end ofthis link is connected to the bell crank [5 of the pen arm ll. By thisconstruction, the pen arm and the hook-like element 22 are swung ordeflected in generally horizontal arcs, the lengths of which aredetermined by the mentioned differential pressure across the orificeplate 6. The deflection of the hook-like element 22 is sensed by the camplate 23 the right end of which oscillates along a generally verticalarc in substantially the plane of travel of the hook-like element 22.This sensing cam plate is adjustably secured on a bar 3% in parallelrelation thereto. This bar is fixed at its left end on an arbor 31 whichhas its ends adapted to rotate in suitable bearings in the front andrear plates 25 and 26, respectively. The lower edge of the cam plate 23is milled to provide teeth (Figs. 6 and 7) which are adapted to beengaged by the hook 22a so that the hook will not slip along thementioned edge of the cam plate. This tendency toward slipping is alsoreduced, since the element 22 never departs from the normal to thetangent at the engaged part of this edge, by an amount greater thanfifteen degrees. Actually, element 22 departs from this normal relationby an angular amount equal to amount of angular swing of the cam plate23 during any excursion. The means of adjusting the cam plate 23 withrespect to the bar 36 is best shown in Figs. 6 and 7. The arbor 3'! ofthe bar 36 passes through a relatively large opening 35 in the camplate, whereas a rotatably adjustable eccentric pin 38 mounted in thecam plate engages a generally horizontal slot 40 in the bar 36. Aclamping screw 39 passes through a generally vertical slot 4| in the camplate 23 and is threaded into bar 36 to clamp these parts together.Similarly, a screw 42 passing through the right end of the bar 38 isscrewed into the tapped hole L3 in the right end of the cam plate andserves as a center about which the left end of the cam plate can swing.It will be understood that by loosening the clamping screw 39 and byrotating the eccentric pin 38 from the position shown, the left end ofthe cam plate can be raised or lowered slightly about the screw 42 as acenter. These several adjustments are usually only necessary during thecalibration of the unit.

The rear surface of bar 36 carries a bracket as, the under surface ofwhich is engaged by an eccentrically mounted roller 45 carried on oneface of the cam 46, as illustrated best in Figs. 4,

5, 6 and 7. This cam is driven from a synchronous motor it throughsuitable gear reduction means (not shown). As illustrated in Figs. 3 and4, a U-shaped bracket 49 of the clutch actuating means has the free endof its arm 49a provided with a pivot pin 5e rotatable in a bearing inthe rear plate 26 and has the free end of its arm 5% provided with apivot pin 5! alined with pin 50 and rotatable in a bearing in the frontplate 25. Arm sa of the bracket has one end of a follower arm 52 securedto its lower end. The other end of the follower arm 52 is provided witha follower or roller 54 which engages the edge of the cam Qt, so that asthe cam rotates, the follower arm 52 will oscillate the bracket 49 aboutan axis defined by the pivots 5| and 52 to engage and disengage theclutch mechanism C. The lower end of the arm 49b is provided with a lug55 (Figs. 9 and 10), which extends through an opening in the front plate25 to shift the driving portion of the clutch mechanism C, shown inFigs. 9 and 10.

The clutch mechanism (3 comprises a U-shaped support which is mounted onthe front surface of the plate 25 and which is provided with spaced arms5? and 58. A stub shaft 59 is provided with journals to rotate inparallel relation to the front plate 25 in alined hearings in the parts57 and 58. There is assembled on this stub shaft a disc E2 provided witha hunts and with a rim (it. A sleeve 65 is also mounted on the shaft andhas its left end (Fig. 9) engaging the hub 63. On this sleeve there iscoaXially mounted for sliding movement thereon, a spool 66. This spoolis provided with a groove 5? to receive the mentioned actuating lug 55forming a part of the clutch shifting mechanism. A fiat coiled spring 68positioned between the disc 62 and the left end of the spool 56, tendsto move the spool toward the right. An actuating arm 59 has an openingin its outer end to receive the right end of the sleeve 65, this armbeing retained on the sleeve in the position shown, by means of a discit. This disc is provided with a threaded hub H which is screwed on tothe threaded end of the shaft 59. The hub ll tightly engages the sleeve65 so that the disc t2, the sleeve 65 and the disc l9 are tightly heldtogether to rotate as a unit. A flat disc spring 13 engages the innersurface of the supporting arm 58 and the right hand surface of the disc'50, while a spring disc Id engages the right hand end of the spool 56and the adjacent surface of the actuating arm as. The rear end of theactuating arm 59 carries a pin 89 projecting at right angles therefrom.Pin extends between two spaced pins 8i, which project at right anglesfrom the bar 36 and also at right angles to the pin 88. By thisconstruction, as the bar 35 is oscillated in a plane parallel to thesupporting plates 25 and 26, the actuating arm 53 is oscillated in aplane perpendicular thereto for advancing the rotation counter RCthrough the clutch C which is engaged during each cycle.

As shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, the shaft 65 is directly connectedby the coupling discs :5 to the shaft ll of the rotation counter RC.However, in the modified form of the invention shown in Figs. 8 to 11,inclusive, the shaft 56 operates through the change gears 83 of asuitable gear train to drive the shaft ll of the counter. While thecoupling illustrated in Figs. 1 through 5, drives the shaft ll of therotation counter direct- 1y, that is, in a one to one ratio with respectto the shaft 6%, the gear train including the change gears 83 causes theshaft ll of the rotation counter to operate according to any desiredratio with respect to the rotation of the shaft 69.

In calibrating the unit, the left end of the cam plate 23 is raised orlowered as the case may be until zer integration is obtained with thetoothed edge of the plate resting on the hook 22a when the element 22 isin registry with the reference mark 86, Fig. 2. Zero integration resultswith element 22 in the mentioned position when the cam plate 23oscillates up and down without its pins 8| raising or lowering the pin89 which is adjustably secured on the actuatin arm 69. The pin 89 isthen adjusted along the slot in the actuator arm 69 until one hundredper cent integration is obtained, when the element 22 is in registrywith the reference mark 9'1, Fi 2, and when the hook 22a engages theright hand portion of the toothed edge of the cam plate 23.

A simple adjustment is provided on the arm 34 for correlating theposition of the flexible member 22 with the position of the pen arm ll.The arm 34 with its pivot and clip 3411 can be adjusted lengthwisethereof, and also rotated angularly relative to the arbor 3|, so thatthe flexible element 22 travels from the index mark 88 to index mark 8!as the pen [8 is moved from the graduation on this chart (Fig. 1) to the10 graduation on this chart. In this case graduation 10 indicates onehundred per cent integration.

In the operation of the device, the synchronous motor 5-8 rotates thecam 46 at the rate of two complete cycles or rotations per minute. Forpurposes of description, the cycle may be considered as progressing fromthe point X on the high part of the cam 49 in its top position (Fig. 6),thence this point descends to a bottom position (Fig. 7) from which itrises to the top position or starting position. While point X on the camis descending, the eccentric roller 45 carried by this cam raises thebracket 44 to swing the right end of the oscillating bar 36 upward aboutits arbor 31. Bar 35, which carries the sensing cam plate 28, likewisemoves this plate upward. The upward movement of this sensing plate freesthe hook 22a of the flexible element 22, so that this element can assumea position proportional to the differential pressure across the orificeplate 6. 'Whi1e the sensing cam plate is rising, the clutch C will be inengagement so that the upward travel of the cam plate, the amount ofwhich is determined by the last position of hook 22a, efiects acorresponding rotation of the counter BC. This rotation is effected bypins 8| on this plate 23 which engage the pin 80 on the actuator arm 69.With the clutch engaged, arm 69 will rotate the shaft 68 and, in turn,the shaft 11 of the counter either through the direct coupling of theembodiment of Fig. 2 or through the gear train 83 in the modified formof the invention shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 10. It will be understood thatduring the period just referred to, the clutch will be engaged sinceroller 54 on th left end of arm 52 (Fig. 6) will be engaging the lowportion of cam 46, and arm 52 has rotated the bracket 49 to swing thelug 55 to the position shown in Fig. 9 where the spool 58 is shifted tothe right, engaging the clutch parts. As point X on cam starts to rise,roller 54 on arm 52 swings this arm clockwise so that the bracket 59 andlug 55 shift the spool of the clutch toward the left to disengage theclutch parts. Thus, the clutch will be disengaged so that the rotationcounter will not be actuated while the sensing cam plate 23 isdescending until it is stopped by the hook 22a engaging the toothed edgeof this plate. It will be understood that the hook 22a which is carriedon the flexible element 22 will be in a position proportional to thedifierential pressure across the orifice plate 6. This completes a cyclewhich is repeated twice a minute.

I claim:

In a mechani m for integrating a variable quantity with respect to timehaving a means for introducin a uniform time factor andinstrumentalities responsive to a second variable factor, a sensingmeans periodically operated by said time factor introducin means, apivoted element substantially inextensibly connected with said variablefactor responsive instrumentalities for oscillation thereby, and anelongated member rigidly attached to said pivoted element foroscillation therewith and having an abutment portion at the free endthereof cooperating with said sensing means, said element being flexiblein the direction of its movement substantially along its length, wherebysaid pivoted element be adiusted by said variable factor responsivemeans while the abutment of said elongated member is engaged andretained by said sensing means.

ARMSTEAD WHARTGN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,515,988 Armstrong et a1. Nov.18, 1924 2,098,685 Harrison Nov. 9, 1937 2,121,082 Harrison June 21,1938 2,123,978 Wagner July 19, 1938 2,264,370 Harrison Dec. 2, 19 .12,266,839 Ackley Dec. 23, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 6018,709 Great Britain Aug. 15, 1914

